VWO Economie exam-day guide
VWO Economie · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring a valid ID document
Bring the identity document your school has registered for you. Which document types are accepted (passport, ID card, driver's licence) is set by your school, so confirm with the invigilator or exam coordinator in advance which document is valid for you.
Know your candidate number and exam schedule
Write down your candidate number and the exact room, date and start time of the economie exam. Verify the start time and any extra time allowance with your school, since schedules differ per candidate (for example for candidates with a disability arrangement).
Bring approved writing materials
Bring several blue or black pens and a pencil plus eraser for any multiple-choice answer sheet. Confirm with your school whether pencil is required only for the answer sheet and whether correction fluid or tape is permitted.
Bring a permitted calculator
A basic calculator is normally permitted for economie, but the exact type and any restrictions (for example no graphing calculator, no stored formulas) are set by the official regulations. Check the current rules via your teacher and the official exam instructions before the exam.
Bring a ruler and a simple (non-programmable) watch
A watch helps you keep pace if the room clock is hard to see. Confirm with your school whether smartwatches and phones must be handed in or switched off in your bag, and where they must be stored.
Leave phone and smart devices at home or hand them in
Mobile phones, smartwatches and other devices with communication or storage functions are not allowed at your table. Follow your school's procedure for handing them in or storing them; confirm that procedure with the invigilator before the exam starts.
Bring water and a light snack for after the exam
The economie exam is long, so bring a bottle of water if the room rules allow it, and something to eat for afterwards. Confirm with your school whether drinks are allowed on the table during the exam.
Bring the correct Binas or information booklet if required
Some economie questions may rely on formulas or tables supplied in an official information booklet. Confirm with your teacher which booklet or annex, if any, is provided or must be brought, and whether it may contain handwritten notes.
Review your own summary of key formulas and concepts
Prepare a one-page overview of core economie tools: percentage change, index numbers, elasticity, break-even, revenue, cost and profit calculations, and market models. Use it for a final short review the day before, then put it away.
Plan your route and arrival time
Check travel time and aim to arrive well before the start so you can settle in. Confirm with your school how early you must be present and what happens if you are late.
Get a full night's sleep and eat breakfast
A long exam rewards a rested brain more than last-minute cramming. Stop studying at a reasonable hour the evening before and eat a normal breakfast.
Read the official exam instructions once
Before the exam, read the official instructions for candidates so you know the rules on conduct, materials and scoring. If anything is unclear, ask your teacher or exam coordinator rather than guessing.
Plan the day
Do targeted practice, not broad rereading. Work through at least two complete past papers under timed conditions, using the official time allowance for your exam. Mark your own answers strictly against the marking scheme and list every recurring error type: misread question, missing unit, wrong formula, incomplete calculation, or a concept you do not actually understand. Spend the remaining time on those specific gaps, and rewrite your one-page formula and concept overview in your own words.
Practise the mechanics of calculation questions: percentage change, index numbers, elasticity, marginal and average cost, break-even, revenue and profit, and reading graphs and tables. For each type, write the formula, one worked example and one common pitfall (for example dividing by the new value instead of the old value, or forgetting to state units). Confirm with your teacher which formulas are assumed knowledge and which are supplied.
Check practical matters: confirm the room, start time, permitted calculator and any extra time with your school, and prepare your bag with ID, pens, pencil, eraser, calculator and watch. Do not leave these to the morning of the exam.
Do a light review only: read your one-page overview and your list of recurring errors. Do not start new topics or attempt a full new past paper. If a concept still feels shaky, write a short explanation of it in your own words rather than rereading the textbook.
Prepare everything you will take: ID, candidate number, pens, pencil, eraser, calculator with fresh batteries, watch, water and snack. Check your route and set an alarm. Stop studying early enough to sleep properly.
Eat breakfast, take your prepared bag, and arrive early. Hand in or switch off your phone according to your school's procedure. Avoid discussing content with classmates right before the exam, since it can raise anxiety and confuse you about facts you already know.
Read the instructions on the cover and check the number of questions and the total marks. Note the end time and plan your pace: roughly marks per minute, plus time to check. Scan the whole paper first so you know which questions are calculation-heavy and which are explanation-based.
Work in the order that suits you, but do not let one hard question consume disproportionate time. For calculation questions, write the formula, substitute the numbers, show intermediate steps and state the unit. For explanation questions, answer in complete sentences and use the economie concepts and causal chains the question asks for; a bare conclusion usually earns fewer points than a clear reasoning step.
Watch for command words: calculate, explain, compare, evaluate, and give an example each require a different kind of answer. Underline the command word and the subject of each question before answering. If a question refers to a table or passage, quote the relevant figure in your answer.
Check that every question has an answer, that units and percentages are correct, and that you have not left a calculation unfinished. Verify that your name or candidate number is on every answer sheet as required. Use remaining time to review your weakest answers rather than rewriting ones you are confident about.
Rules to check
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times. If you are unsure about a procedure, such as handing in your phone or leaving the room, ask the invigilator before acting rather than deciding yourself.
Keep only permitted materials on your table. Phones, smartwatches and other devices with communication or storage functions are not allowed at your table; confirm with your school how and where they must be handed in or stored.
Bring the identity document your school requires and be ready to show it. Which documents are accepted is determined by your school, so confirm this in advance; do not assume any ID will be accepted.
If you need to leave the room during the exam, for example for a toilet break, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Whether breaks are allowed and how they are supervised is set by your school; confirm the procedure beforehand.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not look at another candidate's work. If you believe you have seen irregular behaviour, report it to the invigilator after the exam rather than confronting anyone.
Answer in the language and format the paper requires, and show your working for calculation questions. Scoring generally rewards correct method and clear reasoning, so an answer with only a final number may lose points even if the number is right; confirm the marking conventions with your teacher.
If you are late or become unwell, tell the invigilator immediately. What happens in those situations, including whether extra time is granted, is decided by your school under the official regulations; confirm the rules with your exam coordinator in advance.
Do not remove question papers, answer sheets or any official materials from the room unless the invigilator explicitly says you may. Confirm with your school what you are allowed to take with you after the exam.